Inflatable dam for arresting bleeding in the internal body cavities



Aug. 4, 1953 R. K. POLLOCK ETAL INFLATABLE DAM FOR ARRESTING BLEEDING IN THE INTERNAL BODY CAVITIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20. 195] 1K H cwm w m M. 2 3 M h e 7w m J m 6 2 .62 11 m 0 2 o m 3 Aug. 4, 1953 R. K. POLLOCK ETAL 2,647,515 INFLATABLE DAM F OR ARRESTING BLEEDING IN THE INTERNAL BODY CAVITIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1951 Fig. 6.

a 142.! l -I .lfrn a :ww w: i

Robe! K. Pollock 36 Joseph M. Gapsfur INVENTORS Patented Aug. 4, 1953 INFLATABLE DAM FOR ARRESTING BLEED- ING IN THE INTERNAL BODY CAVITIES Robert K. Pollock, Mansfield, and Joseph M.

Gapstur, Ashland, Ohio, assignors to The Professional Supply Inc., a corporation of Ohio Application August 20, 1951, Serial No. 242,624

'7 Claims. (Cl. 128-325) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for arresting bleeding in the internal body cavities and the primary object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable dam that is conveniently inserted into a cavity and which is expanded against the Wall of the cavity to arrest bleeding of the cavity.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable dam for arresting bleeding in the internal body cavities including an expansible tube closed at one end and having a bulb detachably secured at its open end to permit the tube to be'expanded after the same has been inserted into an internal body cavity.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character wherein the tube includes a reduced extension at its closed end and a flexible guide element having a slit for receiving and holding the extension as the guide element is pulled through an internal body cavity.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide an inflatable dam for arresting bleeding in the internal body cavities that is extremely simple and practical in construction, reliable and eilicient in use, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a humans face to show the invention being inserted into the nose for arresting a nose bleed;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the guide elementremoved and a bulb applied to the tube and the bulb depressed and the tube expanded;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure .4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is ,a longitudinal sectional view through the center of one of the inflatable dams;

Figure 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of another embodiment of the inflatable dams;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a further embodiment of the inflatable dam;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 6 and 7 but of a still further embodiment of the inflatable dam;

Figure 9 is aview partly in section and partly in elevation of the guide element used in the invention in conjunction with the dam of Figures 5, 6 and 7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the plane of section line I0--I 0 of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the plug used in the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It represents an inflatable dam composed of a resilient, expansible and contractable tube or body I2 having an elongated and reduced extension I4 at one end whose outer extremity is closed, whereby the tube I2 may be inflated by air admitted to the tube through its open end. The extension I4 constitutes a tail element whereby the tube I2 may be positioned in a cavity. Therefore, the extension I4 is longer than the tube I2 and of a length sufficient to extend through the nasal pharyngeal and from a patients mouth, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The flanged portion I6 of a plug I8 is fitted into the open end of the tube I2 and the open end of the tube is formed with a heading 20 that extends about the periphery of the plug, intermediate the ends of the plug. The plug I8 is provided with an inner end wall 22 having a central aperture 24 that is adapted to be closed by a flap valve 26 secured by cement or the like at one end to the outer face of wall .22.

Means is provided for sealing one end of the plug I8 in the open end of the tube I2 and this means assumes the form of a rubberized fabric or gum stock 28 that is tightly wrapped about thebeading 20 at the open end of the tube and the plug, thus hermetrically sealing the plug to the tube.

The discharge and intake portion 30 of a compressible and expansible bulb or syringe 32 is frictionally fitted in the axial recess or socket of plug I 8 to permit expansion of the tube I2 as the bulb 32 is manually depressed. I

A flexible guide element or applicator 34 is provided for placing the dam in a nasal cavity. This guide element 34 is made of either extruded or molded pliable rubber or plastic for nasal application. The guide element 34 is formed with a slit 36, adjacent one of its ends, that will receive and yieldingly grip the outer end of extension I l.

In practical use of the invention, the extension I 4 is extended through the nasal pharyngeal cavity C by the guide element 34, as shown in Figure 1, until the tube I2 is positioned in the cavity C as shown in Figure 2. The guide element 34 is then removed from extension I4 and the bullifiz is applied to plug [8 so that as the bulb is depressed the tube I2 will be expanded to contact the wall of cavity C to arrest bleeding.

The flap valve 26 will permit air to enter the tube from the bulb, but will prevent the air in the tube from passing back ifit tiie bulb.- v

Figure 6 shows the inflatable darn Hid in slightly modified form to include-a tube- Ha nay: ing an enlarged, rounded central psrtienta one end of tube [to is provided with an eieiig'ates reduced extension 14a whose outer extremity is closed. The open end of the tube l2a' receives a plug [841 identical to plug l8.

Figure 7 illustrates the inflatable dam Hlb in further modified-form; In thisrembodiment, the dam ltlb comprises a tube I21) in the shape of a dumbbell one end of which is formed with-a reduced extension Mb whose outer extremityis closed, The opposite end of the tube [21) receives a plug 38b similar to plugs 18 and tile:

The iteshown Figure 8- is. simiiar' to the dam It, however, the: dam Etc comprises a tube I having a closed end and void of anex tension.- The open end of tube lZc accommodates a plug I80 identicalto plugs Emits; and: Mb.

The wall section of each dam Mi, Ilia, Mb and We is made of thin natural rubber latex dippedonce, full length of. the form and then dipped a second or third time to increase the wall thick ness. Then, the beadir-rg atthe open endof each. tube. is formed after which the dam is cured inregular manufacturing process; This material usedfor the dams is inert, non-toxic and can bemarlreted sterile.

Havingdescribed-- the invention, what is claimed asnew is:-

1- Asa; new article ina-riuiacture; an infiatable: for-arresting bleeding in the internal body cavities, said-r dam comprising an. elongated emcans-ible contractible tu bo havmga reduced oxtensiorrat one? end considerablylonger than the? tribe andincludinga closed oimr ex tremity', means detaeha-bly engaging; said-exten= sierr for guiding the dam through a cavity, and means carried, by the ditsexiertrulie remote from said! extension for: directing air iii-to the: tube flora inflating the? tube.

' combination 013 ola*im* 1 wherein said means det'etclialrly engaging said extension i-rr-' cludes a flexible guideielem'ent'hayirrgi aislit thereirrzakccommodating smuextension.

3. An: inflatable claim for. arresting; bleeding in the. internal body cavities, sa'id damcomprising 4i: combination of claim 3*'wiherein .said 70 tubeeandsaidl extensionar'econstructed of thin natural rubber latex so that the tube may readily and comfortably conform to the contour of a cavity in which the same is placed.

5. An inflatable dam for arresting bleeding in the internal body cavities, said dam comprising an elongated expansible resilient tube having inner and outer ends, said tube adapted to be inserted in an internal body cavity and inflated to block the cavity in which it is inserted; and a restricted closure at the outer end of said body, said tube having an elongated flexible extension at its inner end considerably longer than the tube and adapted to extend from a patients mouth to provide a means whereby the tube may be properly positioned in a patients nose, said extension I'ieivir'ig at-closed outer extremity.

6. An inflatable dam for arresting bleeding in the internal body cavities, said dam comprising arr elongated expansible resilient tube having inner and outer ends, said tube adapted to be inserted in an internal body cavity and inflated to' bloclr the cavity in which it is inserted; said inner end ofsaid tube being formed with an elongated tail element longer than the tube and having a closed outer extremity for positioning of tlre 'tube in a cavity, a plug fitted in the outer end of said tube and having an opening therein communicating with the interior of said tube, and a fiap valve supported by the plug and normally closing the opening, said plug having a socket concentric with the opening and adapted to receive the outlet nipple of a' syringe.

7. An inflatable dam for arresting bleedingin the internalbody cavities, said darn comprising an elongated expansible resilient tube having an open outer end and adapted to enter an internal body cavity and be inflated to block'the cavity in whichit is inserted, a plug having a flanged por tion fitted in the outer end of said tube, said outer endof saidtube having a peripheral bead about the plug, means sealingthe plug in the tube, said plug having an opening" in its flanged portion esmmumea-ting with the interior of the tube and a fiap' valve carried by the plug positioned within the tube and closing the opening,

said ping having an ax'ial iec'ess} and expansibl and contractin b11115 having a stem fristiofiauy fitted in said reeess,.s'ai i tube having an elongated flexible extension at its inner fid considrably longer than the tube and adapted to extend from a patients mouth to provide a means whereby the tube may be properly positioned in a patients mouth, said extension being tubular and'having a closed outer extremity.

RQBERT K- POLLQCKZ JOSEPH M. GAPSTU'R,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNIT'ED' STATES PA'I 'ENTs Number Name Date 923,303 Shults June 1, 1909 2,179,964:- Stevens -i Nov. 14; 1939 2,215,126 McM-ill'i'n' Sept. 17, 1941 2,493,326 Trinder 3, 1950 FoREiGfi PATENTS Number Country I Date 512,456 Great Britain Sept. 15,- I939 

